Growers wanting greater area coverage from a single reel irrigator have a new option in the Bauer Rainstar E55 XL – the new flagship model in the renowned Rainstar range.
Available with 125mm or 140mm diameter high-quality PE pipe manufactured in the Bauer factory in Austria, the E55 XL can cover up to 7.7ha per run and twice that area by performing two runs from a central position by rotating the turntable reel.
The newcomer is equipped with a robust galvanised steel chassis and integral hydraulic ground anchor to keep the drum stable in spite of the driving torque needed to reel-in the hose.
High pulling force – up to 40% greater than with some irrigation reels – is generated by Bauer’s top-of-the-range and highly-efficient TVR 60 radial water turbine, working in conjunction with a four-speed gearbox, a 1½ in drive chain and large diameter laser cut sprocket.
The turbine’s design and precision assembly ensures it operates with very little water pressure loss, while the unique Vario variable output nozzle exploits what pressure is available by delivering full stream flow over the turbine’s impeller at all settings. In combination with the computer control system installed, the variable water nozzle maintains a constant hose retraction speed from the beginning to the end of the strip.
For highest volumes, the Rainstar E55 XL is available with 140mm Bauer PE pipe in 500m, 530m and 560m lengths, delivering up to 110cu m/hr and capable of irrigating more than 6ha per draw at a swath width of 110m. The 125mm hose is available in 680m, 710m and 740m lengths, delivering up to 70cu m/hr across irrigation swaths up to 100m wide.
The new irrigator is controlled as standard by the Bauer Ecostar 4300 controller but the new Ecostar 6000 controller is an option, providing more advanced features including a 4.3in LED touch-screen for entering and adjusting settings. The Ecostar 6000 can store up to 12 different irrigation programmes that define retraction speed, pre-irrigation, post-irrigation and speed zones, and collects operational data transferable to farm records.
The Rainstar E55 XL can also be managed through Bauer’s SmartRain mobile device App, which provides remote monitoring, alerts and control functions.
